Virginia Inmate Records

Virginia's incarceration rate of 312 per 100,000 people is lower than the national average of 355 per 100,000 United States residents. Over 27,000 inmates are housed in the state's correctional facility and approximately 24,000 in county jails. The federal prisons in the state hold the least number of inmates (about 4,600) within the state's prison system. In Virginia, almost 9,000 individuals are admitted to correctional facilities under the jurisdiction of the state and federal correctional authorities each year.

Records of inmates incarcerated in state prisons, federal correctional facilities, and local jails are maintained by the respective government agencies in charge of the correctional facilities. A typical Virginia inmate record includes several details, including the following:

• Personal Information - An inmate's personal information includes their name, date of birth, address at the time of conviction, gender, and race. Personal details may also include descriptors like weight, height, tattoos, and scars.
• Court Details - These include trial details, fines, case numbers, and court decisions.
• Arrest Information - This contains the name of the arresting agency, the arrest date and time, the arrest location, charges filed, bail information, and the arrest warrant.
• Parole and Release Information - This shows parole eligibility, parole conditions, and the expected date of release.
• Sentencing Details- The length of the prison/jail sentence and the outcome of the sentence.
• Incarceration Details- This typically shows the facility of incarceration and the location.

Are Inmate Records Public in Virginia?

Yes. Codified in Section 2.2-3700of the Code of Virginia, the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) grants members of the public the right to access public records in the custody of government agencies or their employees. These records include most inmate records maintained by authorized agencies in the state. However, details like an inmate's financial account number, Social Security number, and driver's license number are considered confidential and are not usually disclosed alongside other information in a typical Virginia inmate record. Similarly, sealed arrest records are exempt from public disclosure in the state.

What Agencies Are Responsible for Inmate Records in Virginia?

Only authorized government agencies in the Commonwealth of Virginia at the state, local, and federal levels may oversee inmates' activities and maintain their records. These agencies include the following:

• The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) - This agency oversees several state-run correctional facilities in the Commonwealth of Virginia and keeps the records of inmates in those facilities. There are at least 40 correctional facilities under the Virginian Department of Corrections (VADOC), including prison facilities and community offices spread across three regions: Western, Central, and Eastern.
• The County Sheriff's Offices - Some county sheriff's offices are responsible for the 59 local and regional jails in the Commonwealth of Virginia. These facilities primarily house individuals sentenced for felonies or misdemeanors with sentences of 1 year or less, as well as persons awaiting transfer to state-run prisons or trials. In addition to running jail facilities, county sheriff's offices also keep records of all inmates housed in facilities under their supervision.
• Police Departments - While local police departments in Virginia do not directly oversee any correction facilities, they are responsible for keeping records of arrests, which include information about inmates' arrests, detention, and charges that led to their convictions. These details are typically found in inmate records.
• Clerks of Courts - The clerks of the courts where offenders are convicted and sentenced to prisons or jails maintain court records and relevant orders regarding such offenders. These are a part of a typical inmate record in Virginia.
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) - The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) houses all Individuals convicted of federal offenses in its two federal prisons in Virginia and maintains their records. Federal offenses typically include crimes like fraud, drug trafficking, crimes committed on federal property, terrorism, and money laundering.

How To Search for an Inmate's Information in Virginia?

It is imperative for anyone looking to locate a Virginia inmate or find information about them to determine if the inmate is being held or was incarcerated in a federal, state, or local correctional facility.

Find an inmate in Virginia State Prisons

Interested persons may find information on inmates incarcerated in state prisons and under the custody of the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) through the Inmate Locator provided by the department. Users can search with an inmate's full name and at least the first letter of their name or the inmate's 7-digit Inmate ID. Advanced search criteria like the inmate's alias, middle name, location, sex, age, release date, and race may also be used to help streamline an inmate search. This inmate locator does not have information on inmates who are not under VADOC custody.

Search results obtained using VADOC's Inmate Locator generally contain minimal information like full name, location, inmate ID, and release date. Anyone looking to obtain more detailed information about inmates under the custody of the Virginia Department of Corrections should visit the correctional facilities where they are currently being held. They will have to provide the custodian basic information to help them locate sought records.

Find an Inmate in Local Jail

Records of inmates incarcerated in Virginia's local jails are kept by the county sheriff's offices managing the jail facilities and overseeing the affairs of incarcerated inmates. Most sheriff's offices provide public access to information about inmates in their custody through online inmate rosters or locators that typically allow inmate search by name or inmate number.

If a local or regional jail does not have an online inmate search, interested persons can visit the jail facility in person to find information about any of their inmates. Similarly, if a person needs an inmate record with comprehensive information, it is best to visit the local jail facility where that inmate is held and provide important information to help locate the inmate's file.

Find an Inmate in Federal Prison

Records of inmates housed in Petersburg FCC and Lee USP, the two federal prisons located in Virginia, are available through the BOP Inmate Locator. Users can search for federal inmates incarcerated in these facilities from 1982 to the present using their names or BOP register numbers as the search criterion. If searching by an inmate's name, users may also include race, approximate age at the time of incarceration, and sex to help streamline the search.

How Can I Access Old Inmate Records?

The VADOC Inmate Locator has no information about individuals who were previously incarcerated in Virginia state-run prisons. Similarly, records of old inmates who were housed in local jails at the time they were incarcerated are no longer available on inmate rosters or locators managed by local or regional jails in the county. Generally, only records of inmates currently in custody may be accessed through the online resources provided by each prison or jail authority in the state.

One of the first places to look when seeking information about old inmates in the state is the Library of Virginia. Interested persons may contact the Library at (804) 692-3500 for the possibility of accessing old inmate records in the state. Similarly, many records of old inmates incarcerated in the state's federal prisons may be accessed through the National Archives. Furthermore, regardless of where an old inmate was incarcerated in the state, members of the public may access information about them through third-party sites like Virginiapublicrecords.us, although at a small fee. Information collected and uploaded on these databases typically remains there permanently and may be accessed at any time.

Another way to access old inmate records in Virginia is to request their incarceration information in person by visiting the correctional facility where they served time before their release. In most cases, the custodian will require certain details to help them conduct the search and locate the sought records. Alternatively, interested persons may submit a FOIA request (requesting inmate information) to the VADOC using its contact form, by email, or in writing to the Warden or Superintendent of the correctional facilities that housed such inmates

Can I Find a Virginia Inmate Record for Free?

Yes, but information obtained through a free Virginia inmate record lookup is usually not detailed. Besides, online inmate search resources provided by each prison or jail authority in the state only have records of inmates under their jurisdiction (or in their custody). For example, an inmate roster maintained by a local or regional jail will not have any information on inmates incarcerated in a federal or state-run prison. They may only provide records of inmates held in their jail custody.

Regardless of whether an inmate is housed in a local, state, or federal correctional facility in Virginia, anyone may access their record through independent record service companies like Virginiapublicrecords.us. This is because these sites serve as a one-stop database of inmate records and typically provide public access to detailed records of all inmates in the state, although at a nominal fee.

Jails and Prisons in Virginia

The correctional facilities in Virginia have varying management structures, as listed below:

• Federal Prisons - The two federal prisons operating within Virginia's boundaries are managed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
• State Prisons - The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) is in charge of the over 40 correctional facilities in the state, which generally include prison facilities, community correctional facilities, and secure medical facilities.
• Local and Regional Jails - Local authorities like the county sheriff's offices manage approximately 59 local and regional jails across the state.

State Prisons in Virginia

This table provides information about some of Virginia's state-run prisons:

Private Prisons in Virginia

Virginia has no private prisons. The state has taken control of the only privately operated correctional facility in the Commonwealth.

Virginia Inmate Statistics

• Virginia Incarceration Rate - 312 per 100,000 residents
• Male Incarceration Rate - 588 per 100,000 males
• Female Incarceration Rate - 42 per 100,000 females
• Youth Custody Rate - 64 per 100,000 youths
• Number of Prisoners in Private Prisons - 0
• Black/White Imprisonment Disparity - 4.4:1
• Latino/White Imprisonment Disparity - 0.4:1
• Number of offenders under community supervision - 912 per 100,000 people
• Number on probation - 912 per 100,000 people
• Number on parole - 26 per 100,000 people
• Felony Disenfranchisement Rate - 4.2%

* Source: United States Bureau of Justice Statistics